What is an ASBO?
Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are civil orders made by a court which prohibit the perpetrator from specific anti-social acts and from entering defined areas on a map (exclusion zones). An order lasts for a minimum of two years. The purpose of an ASBO is to protect the public from behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment or alarm or distress, not to punish the perpetrator. ASBOs are community-based orders that involve local people in collecting evidence and helping to enforce breaches of the prohibitions in the order. They are designed to encourage local communities to become actively involved in reporting crime and anti-social behaviour, thus building and protecting the community. The police, council, registered social landlords and the British Transport Police can apply for these orders.
